Fletcher on Podium Again in Soldier Hollow

SOLDIER HOLLOW, UT (Dec. 14) - Germany's Mark Schlott picked up his first FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup win with a narrow one second margin over the U.S. Ski Team's Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO). It was Fletcher's fourth straight podium in the international series at the Utah Olympic Park and Soldier Hollow. Three Americans cracked the to eight including a career best sixth for Adam Loomis (Eau Claire, WI).

HIGHLIGHTS

Third straight individual podium (plus one team podium) for Taylor Fletcher

Fletcher continues to lead the FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup by 20 points over Mark Schlott

Third straight top 10 for Nick Hendrickson (Park City, UT)

Impressive career best for Adam Loomis

Final race Wednesday (Tue./Wed. races were moved from Lake Placid)

QUOTESMark Schlott, GermanyJumping was really difficult because it was snowing, but my jump was OK. In the cross country, I knew Taylor [Fletcher] was 20 seconds behind me - not so far away - and I knew he was coming up behind me. Today I could follow him. I had really good skis and I was able to go in front of him to the finish line and he couldn't catch me.

Taylor Fletcher, U.S. Ski TeamI was feeling pretty confident about my racing coming into it, coming off my best day on Sunday and was hoping for another win for sure. Jumping was challenging this morning. We had some slow conditions and not the best air so that made it challenging. Coming into the race I felt pretty good. I maybe tried to play it a little bit smarter than I did the days before. The other guys had some pretty good skis and they were able to hang with me most of the race and I couldn’t quite break away. Coming in to the last turn, Schlott was able to get into the draft and coast up to me pretty quickly. It's second place, and I'm happy with that.

Geoffrey LaFarge, FranceI felt confident for the podium, but I knew it was hard to win because American guys are here and very fast in cross country, so I gave it all I had but I couldn't follow. But I'm happy with the results. It's hard because it's the fourth race with a fifth again tomorrow. It's a hard week.